Rueben Randle – Saturday Down Southhttps://www.saturdaydownsouth.com
Best Football - Best Fans - Best TailgatingTue, 26 Sep 2017 21:26:42 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.2Photo: LSU’s Rueben Randle going through NFL rookie hazinghttps://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2012/lsu-rueben-randle-nfl-hazing/
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2012/lsu-rueben-randle-nfl-hazing/#commentsThu, 16 Aug 2012 13:32:38 +0000http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/?p=13278Rueben Randle was a talented wide receiver who left LSU early after last season (his junior year) to enter the NFL and was selected in the 2nd round by the New York Giants. One of his teammates, Corey Webster (who also played college ball at LSU), tweeted this photo of the veterans tying him up and throwing him in an ice bath:

Most of the time, the SEC likes to brag about its litany of national championships, All-Americans and NFL draft picks.

This year is no different.

After leading all of college football with 42 selections, here’s 10 players from the SEC you’ll be hearing about this season:

IMPACT FIVE

5. Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina (Buffalo Bills) – The Gamecocks’ three-year starter and former Mr. Football in the state of South Carolina has a chance to be the cornerstone of Buffalo’s defense with a rare combination of athletic ability and ball skills. While he struggles at times against pump fakes and taller wide receivers, Gilmore’s speed should make up for occasional mental lapses in the secondary.

4. Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia (Buffalo Bills) — One of the best “steals” of Day One, Glenn slipped to Buffalo at No. 42 overall and should start from day one for the Bills. Glenn was tabbed with a first-round grade by most experts, so hearing his name called in the second round was a bit of a surprise for the former Bulldog. At 6-foot-5, 350 pounds, Glenn is a monster to run behind. Already one of the NFL’s least-sacked quarterbacks, Ryan Fitzpatrick, is happy if Glenn starts at left tackle.

3. Morris Claiborne, DB, LSU (Dallas Cowboys) — Claiborne will be a star in Big D … in due time. He’ll make an impact this season in the return game and — in certain packages — on defense. He’s a natural ballhawk with 11 interceptions over his final two seasons in Baton Rouge. And please disregard the Wonderlic score! It proves nothing. Claiborne admitted to blowing it off since it doesn’t consist of football-related questions. He won’t have a problem with the Cowboys’ playbook, nor covering some of the NFL’s top wideouts at the line of scrimmage.

2. Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama (Baltimore Ravens) — Whether it’s Upshaw or fellow Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower here, both linebackers are interchangeable talents. Upshaw will fit right into Baltimore’s 3-4 scheme as a hybrid pass-rusher and run-stopper. Like Hightower, Upshaw can play off the edge or drop back into coverage with relative ease. Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome traded up to get Upshaw, an impact player who will be on the field more often than not as a rookie. He’ll be in the starting mix according to head coach John Harbaugh.

1. Mark Barron, FS, Alabama (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) — One of five Crimson Tide standouts to be picked in the first 35 selections, Barron brings supreme talent to a unit that under-performed in 2011. The Bucs need all the help they can get on a defense that ranked last in the league with 30.9 PPG allowed. The Bucs also gave up an NFL-high 6.3 yards per play. In the same secondary as veteran corner Ronde Barber, Tampa’s pass defense got a serious hard-hitting upgrade in Barron.

POTENTIAL BUSTS

5. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama (Cleveland Browns) — Definitely a shocking pick as a potential bust, Alabama’s Heisman finalist is a tank that takes no prisoners with the ball in his hands, but shouldering the load in Cleveland after off-season knee surgery raises questions. Richardson could be a serious stud and perennial 1,500-yard running back, he’s that good. The other end of the spectrum seems more likely, at least, early in his career behind an offensive line in Cleveland that struggled last season.

4. Rueben Randle, WR, LSU (New York Giants) — Randle is in a good position with the defending champs, but there was a handful of better options for the Giants at this spot in the draft. Picked to replace Mario Manningham, New York ultimately went with LSU’s most reliable target who blossomed as a junior with eight touchdown receptions. Randle could mature into Eli Manning’s best option on the outside, but that will take a few games, seasons perhaps. This fall, he’ll battle Jerrel Jernigan for the Giants’ third wideout spot behind Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks.

3. Melvin Ingram, DE/LB, South Carolina (San Diego Chargers) — Labeled a tweener by most analysts, Ingram’s lack of size as a defensive lineman raises questions on how he’ll perform at the line of scrimmage in the pros. At 6-1, 260 pounds it seems more likely that Ingram will play linebacker in San Diego or become a third-down blitz specialist. I think it’s laughable that some folks have mentioned Ingram being a weapon on special teams. That worked momentarily at South Carolina, but won’t in the NFL. With that being said, he’s an athletic playmaker that can help in a variety of areas and a safe gamble for the Chargers.

2. Michael Brockers, DT, LSU (St. Louis Rams) — Brockers grew from a 250-pound defensive end as a freshman to an agile, 320-pound tackle over his final two seasons but it’s that added size that could negatively affect his ability to chase down opposing running backs and now, some quarterbacks. As dominant as LSU’s defense was last season, Brockers only had two sacks and didn’t force a fumble, so calling him a feared pass-rusher isn’t exactly accurate. Playing in St. Louis without much talent around him won’t help his cause.

1. Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina (Chicago Bears) — I said it months ago and I’ll say it again: I don’t see Alshon making an impact in professional football. He doesn’t have top-end speed, is a sloppy route runner and has trouble creating separation. Against talented NFL defensive backs, I don’t think he’ll be able to make the same highlight-worthy catches he made during his first two seasons in Columbia. He’s still a formidable downfield threat with great hands and leaping ability, but issues with his speed will be detrimental to his progress. Alshon’s only experience in freezing temperatures was at the Papa Johns Bowl his freshman season. Like most wideouts that afternoon, he had a case of the drops. In the end, he could be Justin Blackmon-good, or just an interchangeable possession guy for quarterback Jay Cutler. The Bears took a chance and hope it pans out.

]]>https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2012/5-first-year-impact-picks-busts/feed/23Signing Class Report Card: LSU Tigershttps://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2012/signing-class-report-card-lsu-tigers/
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2012/signing-class-report-card-lsu-tigers/#commentsTue, 14 Feb 2012 16:31:25 +0000http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/?p=10783Biggest Needs: The Tigers went 13-1 in 2011 with an appearance in the BCS National Championship game, and most believe that the 2012 team has more talent than last year’s team. Last year there was a constant battle between Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee at QB. With both Jefferson and Lee graduating, there will be no QB controversy, because JUCO transfer Zach Mettenberger will be taking over the starting job. WR Rueben Randle elected to leave early for the NFL draft, but Odell Beckham Jr. seems to be the next great receiver at LSU. They lose four seniors off the two-deep depth chart on the offensive line, and that includes OG Will Blackwell and OG Josh Dworaczyk. When you add in the loss of TE Deangelo Peterson, there are going to be a lot of holes up front to fill.

LSU fans are used to a defensive line that is constantly rotating quality guys in and out, and while that will continue in 2012, they will have to replace a few great players. DE Kendrick Adams is a tough loss, as well as DT Michael Brockers’ early departure to the NFL. Brockers and Adams accounted for over 15 tackles for loss, but with Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo returning up front, everything will be fine. LSU loses three linebackers, with Ryan Baker being by far the biggest loss at LB. Baker was fourth on the team in tackles with 64. Safety Brandon Taylor is the lone loss at DB, and I think there are already guys on campus ready to step in and be starters in 2012.

Needs Met: For a team that has so much talent on campus already, LSU didn’t need to sign much to be successful next year. However, LSU added great players that could help them reach the top in 2012. The Tigers began replacing depth on the offensive line by signing four guys up front. OG Vadal Alexander is a steal out of Georgia that will probably break the two-deep depth chart quickly. Offensive tackle Derrick Edinburg is a giant at 6’8” 320lbs that could have a long career guarding the blind side. The Tigers also signed QB Jeremy Liggins, who at 6’3” 270lbs draws comparisons to former Kentucky QB Jared Lorenzen. Lorenzen was called the “Battleship” in college, so who knows what nicknames Tiger fans will come up with for Liggins. The Tigers signed three WR’s, with Beaux Bridge, LA, teammates Travin Dural and Kavahra Holmes being two quality in-state prospects.

Defensively the Tigers signed five linebackers, and I think that LB Kwon Alexander is a great get from the state of Alabama. Alexander has great closing speed that will fit well in John Chavis’ defense, but don’t sleep on Lorenzo Phillips who also has the talent to contribute early on. LSU also signed five defensive backs that will have time to learn from some of the best already on campus, but CB Dwayne Thomas could see time as a true freshman. Another defensive back that I am interested to watch is CB Derrick Raymond. Raymond didn’t receive a lot of fanfare, but don’t be shocked to see him contribute in some capacity next year. While LSU didn’t sign any defensive linemen in this class, don’t be surprised to see guys like Lamar Louis or Trey Granier play with their hand down at some point in their careers. Both Louis and Granier fit the Sam Montgomery mold of a speed-rush defensive end.

Biggest Get: Kwon Alexander. Alexander is a LB out of Oxford, AL, and for the Tigers to pull Alexander out of Alabama is a huge steal.

Biggest Miss: Landon Collins. Alabama snagged the best safety in the country out of Louisiana, and I know that LSU fans hate losing a talented in-state guy to the Crimson Tide.

Final Evaluation: LSU is going to be stacked next year, and this class only adds to the depth and talent that was already on campus. In my mind, this class gives LSU exactly what they need for another title run in 2012.

]]>https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2012/signing-class-report-card-lsu-tigers/feed/2LSU Writer Explains Why LSU Beats Bamahttps://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/lsu-vs-alabama-lsu-wins/
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/lsu-vs-alabama-lsu-wins/#commentsFri, 04 Nov 2011 11:45:00 +0000http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/?p=9626Part of me didn’t want to write this out of fear that the Big Bad BAMA D would come and sack me, too. Another part of me figured that there is no way LSU could do anything on offense after seeing what the BAMA D did to Kent State, North Texas and Ole Miss. Then, the common sense of all the talking heads picking BAMA made me shut it down.

Then I watched this:

Which made me remember this:

Which then reminded me that a completely healthy LSU offense is going to line up and go blow for blow with the BAMA Defense. However, the LSU offense isn’t going to try to land a one-shot haymaker on BAMA like Florida, Ole Miss or Tennessee. LSU has staying power. The Tigers aren’t going to hang for a half and then fade away into a Tide of oblivion in the second half.

Unlike the rest of BAMA’s 2011 competitors, LSU has an arsenal of blunt force trauma weapons at its disposal for this game. LSU’s offense is much like a heavyweight fighter. It is going to pound its opponent with body blows in the early rounds and then turn out the lights with uppercuts to the chin later on.

In between the body blows and knock downs, LSU is going to hit BAMA in the mouth with a 6’1- 280 pound bowling ball on every play. That bowling ball is fullback J.C. Copeland, who is capable of wiping out pairs of linebackers with one block. When he isn’t rolling, a slightly smaller battering ram will be used, James Stampley (5’10 239).

But Copeland and Stampley should be the least of BAMA’s worries. It is the two sledgehammers going full bore into the BAMA defense that should be cause for concern. The first hammer is Spencer Ware (512 yds, 6 TDs). Ware has been called one of the meanest and most violent runners in college football. He has also been called inferior in class to Trent Richardson. Most notably by the man calling Saturday’s classic, Gary Danielson. Don’t think that Ware won’t have that on his mind every time he touches the ball or trucks a defensive back. The second hammer will be freshman Kenny Hilliard, who is still picking parts of Auburn’s D from his cleats. Hilliard, 5’11 240, had his coming out party against Auburn by rushing 10 times for 65 yards and two TDs while wearing at least three Auburn players on every carry. LSU will also be looking to get some traction by using a combination of the two gents above with either Michael Ford or Alfred Blue. Ford’s power and speed has been deadly in the second half as opposing defenses WARE down. Many of his 441 yards are the product of defenses bracing for another gut shot, while Ford springs one to the outside. The Tigers can pound on a team for all four quarters and never fade in the running game. It is what they do, and no team has stopped it this season.

KENNY HILLIARD:

LSU would love to win the game in this fashion, but it has no problems with using a little rope a dope with the passing game as well. It will be a requirement this Saturday. If there is one legitimate chink in BAMA’s armor, it is that the secondary has been pushed around at times in the passing game. Against LSU, the BAMA defensive backs are going to help against the run, and they are going to get a little bruised and tired doing so. That’s when lightning will strike.

Jarrett Lee has led an LSU passing offense that is more effective than efficient. Of the 112 LSU completions, an astounding 80 percent were either for a first down or a touchdown. Reuben Randle is a big reason for the success as he has demonstrated that he is one of, if not the best receiver in the SEC. The junior is averaging over 19 yards per catch and has 638 total yards and seven TDs on the season. Randle would also like nothing more to break BAMA’s back again like he did in 2010, when he had 125 yards and a TD.

LEE TO RANDLE:

Randle won’t be the only passing weapon in play. There are other legitimate receiving threats on the field. The first is Deangelo Peterson versus a linebacker and the others are Russell Shepard and freshman Odell Beckham versus anybody. Peterson is a TE with WR speed and hands that has made teams pay when being covered by slower linebackers. Shepard and Beckham have consistently gotten separation and are a TD threat every time the ball is in their hands. Beckham’s production after the catch reminds many LSU fans of former Tiger great, Josh Reed.
Coincidentally, this weekend is the tenth anniversary of Reed’s record setting 19 catch, 293 yard, one TD performance against Alabama. It might take that type of Herculean effort by an individual to lift the Tigers to victory. Actually, I am pretty certain that a Herculean effort will be seen, but it won’t be from an individual. It will be by a team of oxen that will be pulling and pushing the Tigers up the hill to victory…the offensive line.

There will be glory for a skill player…but it will be a product of unit that has only given up seven sacks and helped clear the way for run game that has amassed 1,512 rushing yards and a 4.3 yard per carry average. If the running backs are blunt force trauma weapons, then the LSU offensive line is a Mack truck. A Mack truck that runs over the opposition in the first half and then throws it in reverse in the second half to do it again…just to make sure the job is done.

MVP: The MVP so far through eight games is defensive back Tyrann Mathieu. This kid exemplifies the word animal on defense, albeit a smoking animal, but nonetheless an animal. Mathieu has been dubbed the Honey Badger and with good reason. The kid takes what he wants on defense. Mathieu is tied for the league lead in forced fumbles with Jadeveon Clowney (4), and he has already set an LSU record for forced fumbles (8) for a career. He will be able to add to that over the rest of this season and next year. I think, pound for pound, Mathieu is as good as anyone in the country, and he’s certainly as aggressive as anyone in the country.

Runner-up: Rueben Randle is arguably the best receiver in the SEC this season. Randle has currently leaped to first in the SEC in receiving yards (638 yards), receiving touchdowns (7) and yards per catch (19.3). Randle has really upped his game this season for the Tigers, and he’s been that go-to receiver who LSU can count on. Whether it’s a fly route or an intermediate route, Randle has proven he can get open this year for the Tigers and Jarrett Lee.

Biggest Surprise: No doubt the biggest surprise for the LSU Tigers this season has been Jarrett Lee. Lee has played out-of-this-world good and very efficient in the passing game. He has thrown one interception this season – one! Everyone was pointing to Jordan Jefferson and how he stepped up his game in the spring, and how Jefferson will be the guy to lead this team to the promise land. Well, those plans went away even before the season started with the word of Jefferson’s arrest, and Lee was ready to step up to the plate and take charge. Lee is leading the SEC in passing efficiency (157.4), fourth in passing yards (1,250) and second in passing touchdowns (13). Lee’s emergence at quarterback is probably the leading reason, besides the defense, that LSU is sitting at 8-0 right now.

Biggest Disappointment: The biggest disappointment for the LSU Tigers in 2011 has been Jordan Jefferson’s arrest, and the black eye the fight heard round the college football world left on the Tigers’ program. While Jarrett Lee has stepped up to the plate in a big way this season, Jefferson was thought to move this offense better, both on the ground and through the air. He was playing better in the spring under Steve Kragthorpe, and we all thought it was his time to shine. But that never happened and the rest is history. Who knows, this could have been the best thing that happened to LSU this season, not the biggest disappointment. For now, I will call it a disappointment. If LSU runs the table and goes 13-0, we’ll call it the best thing that ever happened to LSU.

Stat To Note: The biggest stat to note is that LSU is leading the SEC in passing efficiency (162.4), completion percentage (63.6) and fewest interceptions (1). After a tumultuous season a year ago, it looked like all LSU needed to be a National Championship team was a quarterback. Between Jefferson and Lee, it was ugly for 85 percent of the time. However, this year, under much weirder circumstances with Jefferson being suspended early, Lee has raised his game to a new height this year. I love watching this kid play, and I hope Les Miles’ tinkering of the quarterbacks does not interrupt Lee’s confidence or rhythm.

Looking Ahead: The only game that means anything for LSU right now is next week against Alabama. This LSU team is just the perfect team to roll into Tuscaloosa, swagger and all, and pull off one of the biggest regular season games in LSU football history. The talent and athleticism is there, now all Les Miles has to do is taste the grass in Bryant-Denny, and it will be all over.

]]>https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/by-the-bye-lsu-tigers/feed/3Rueben Randle Once Again Proves He’s A Force At Wide Receiver For LSUhttps://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/rueben-randle-force-for-lsu/
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/rueben-randle-force-for-lsu/#respondMon, 24 Oct 2011 17:05:33 +0000http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/?p=9376Rueben Randle started off his career a little slower than most LSU fans would have liked; however, he’s making up for the first two years in his junior season.

The 6-4, 210lb wide receiver had a monster game against Auburn, but he’s been doing this all season. Randle now leads the SEC in receiving with 638 receiving yards on 33 receptions. He’s also leading in touchdowns with seven, and he’s averaging a gaudy 19.3 yards per catch.

HERE ARE RANDLE’S TWO TOUCHDOWNS AGAINST AUBURN:

Randle gives LSU that deep threat they can turn to when Alabama plays tight along the line of scrimmage, expecting a Spencer Ware dive. Randle will be huge weapon for the remainder of the season.

]]>https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/rueben-randle-force-for-lsu/feed/0LSU’s Rueben Randle Has Stepped His Game Up This Yearhttps://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/rueben-randle-lsu-highlights/
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/rueben-randle-lsu-highlights/#commentsFri, 14 Oct 2011 13:18:26 +0000http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/?p=9097When LSU wide receiver Rueben Randle was being recruited out of high school, everyone knew this kid would be very good in the SEC at some point in his career. He showed playmaking ability straight out of high school, and many thought he would make a splash as soon as he hit campus.

However, it has taken him a little bit longer to really arrive on the scene in the SEC – but he’s finally here.

As a freshman, Randle had 11 catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns. As a junior, Randle became a more integral part of the offense, and he caught 33 passes for 544 yards and three touchdowns.

Still, he did not prove he could be the go-to receiver, and he has been more or less in the shadow of Terrance Toliver throughout his career in Baton Rouge.

A year ago, LSU struggled to get the football to their dynamic receivers with Jordan Jefferson at the helm. Jefferson was hit or miss in many games last year, and no rhythm was ever found in the passing game because of it. However, this year, Jarrett Lee is doing a fine job of getting him the ball.

This year, Randle has 23 catches for 446 yards and four touchdowns already. He is averaging 19.4 yards per catch this year, and that is due in large part to Spencer Ware’s ability to run the ball and Jarrett Lee’s ability to sell the play-action.

Randle is reaping the benefits, and he is a formidable threat for LSU this season. He has made himself into a better receiver, and it looks like he is just into the games more than from the previous two years.

Here are few highlights from Rueben Randle this season:

Randle has shown this year he can be a good deep threat and an intermediate threat. He can absolutely bail out the quarterback too by going up and getting the football.

1. Houston Nutt, Ole Miss: Houston Nutt is certainly going through some trying times in Oxford right now with the recent struggles of his team and program. Nutt perhaps tried to change his losing luck with a sweet hat, but to no avail. Georgia didn’t play that good of a game, and Ole Miss was never in the game. Nutt has no quarterback, and there is no energy or passion within that program right now. Upon losing the CareerBuilder Bowl last weekend, Nutt has to start thinking about saving his job at some point after the season. A trip to Fresno, California, could greatly help or hurt his status moving forward.

2. Chris Relf, QB, Mississippi State: I still love Chris Relf, but he needs to pick up his game right now. The Bulldogs are 0-2 in SEC play, and they are on the road this week at Georgia. Relf didn’t exactly play that well last weekend, or the weekend before. Last week, Relf often misfired on many passes in the second half before connecting with LaDarius Perkins in overtime. Furthermore, Relf was 2 of 9 passing on third down, and he only made one passing conversion during that time. I was hyping Relf before the season, and I am still on his bandwagon right now – yes, even still – but he definitely needs to step up right now.

3. Arkansas’ Running Game: Before you yell at me and tell me that Arkansas played arguably the best defense in the country in Alabama, I watched the game. The Hogs amassed a mere 17 yards rushing on the day! 17 yards will not win you football games. We knew coming into the year after Knile Davis’ injury, it would be a struggle to find a running game, but Ronnie Wingo and Dennis Johnson are just not the answer right now. And this offense looks to be one dimensional. They will have to win with Petrino-Ball…airing it out.

RISING

1. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama: Kirkpatrick had all the talent in the world coming out of high school with his lean 6-3 body, and now he is putting it all together. Kirkpatrick was everywhere this past weekend against Arkansas. He is first in the SEC right now with eight overall passes defended, with eight breakups on the year. He is a lock-down corner with great height and crazy athleticism.

2. Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU: The little ball of hate, as LSU writer Robert Hopkins calls him, is absolutely dominant in every aspect of the game. From a defensive back standpoint to returning punts to covering punts, Mathieu has a nose for the ball and just an overall sense of how to be a playmaker. You look the word playmaker up, and there will be a picture of Mathieu. He is dominant right now, and I love watching this kid play.

3. Rueben Randle, WR, LSU: Randle has always been a great athlete, but he has been sort of lost in the mix last year with Terrance Tolliver and an average passing game. However, he has stepped up to the plate this season for the Tigers. Randle caught a team-high six passes for 53 yards and one touchdown a week ago. He dropped another touchdown, but we’ll cut him some slack. Randle has looked more comfortable this year than the last two years. The game is coming to him easier right now, and he and Jarrett Lee really have a great connection going on right now.

The Oregon Ducks are the preseason Pac-12 favorite, and they are the defending runner-up to the Auburn Tigers in last year’s National Championship game. The Ducks return a ton of skill position players, with quarterback Darron Thomas and running backs LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner all returning. Thomas threw for over 2,800 yards and 30 touchdowns. James finished with 1,730 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.

If you give James or Barner a crease, they will break off a long one real quick.

The Ducks did lose their 1,000-yard receiver in Jeff Maehl.

The Ducks do, however, return only two starters along the offensive line. So it will be interesting to see how this affects their game or ability against another tough defensive line in LSU.

Oregon’s defense will be a physical and athletic bunch, similar to the offense and similar to last year.

What You Need To Know About LSU:

LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson might not even be able to play in this game because of an incident at a local bar. We’ll know more later as we approach the game.

LSU is talented, physical and fast, both on offense and defense.

We’ll get a look at the Tigers’ new offense installed first by Steve Kragthorpe (later resigned from the play-calling duties) and Greg Studrawa (took over for Kragthorpe). That offense may include or may not include Jefferson, but backup Zach Mettenberger certainly looks the part at quarterback. He’s a big kid with a big arm, and he looks really good moving around in the pocket with his footwork.

No matter who the quarterback is, they will need to get the ball to receivers Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard because they are very talented.

Defensively, LSU is going through some changes and questions at linebacker, but the defensive line and secondary will be fine.

Matchup I’m Watching:

For this game, I’m interested in seeing what this LSU defensive line can do to the Oregon offensive line because of the loss of three starters.

You have to think LSU’s defense will be better for the longevity of the season than Auburn’s a year ago, but can they put it together in game one?

If LSU wins this game, it will be close; however, if Oregon wins, it could be two touchdowns or more. I just get that feeling.

Former offensive coordinator Steve Kragthorpe resigned from his position due to health issues; however, he will stay on board to coach the quarterbacks. Offensive line coach Greg Studrawa will take over the play-calling duties. Kragthorpe has had this offense all through the spring, and I would imagine they are very used to his tempo and play calling. Now, it does become a slight issue with Studrawa taking over this duty. It is important that Kragthorpe is still coaching the quarterbacks because he has already elevated the play of Jordan Jefferson. This will be an interesting combination moving forward.

2. Figure Out How To Get Russell Shepard More Involved

Russell Shepard has been vastly underused since he arrived on campus in Baton Rouge. This kid has all the talent in the world, but he has been very non-involved when he should be making an impact. He needs to touch the football a minimum of 10-12 times per game to have an effect. If I’m LSU, I game plan around Shepard similar to Florida game planned around Percy Harvin. I would give Shepard the football in every different position, whether it be at wide receiver, Wildcat quarterback and even some tailback.

3. Figure Out Special Teams Issues

Josh Jasper is now gone, and so is Patrick Peterson. Peterson was so dynamic at flipping field position, and it became very important because the Tigers were playing a ton of close games. Jasper’s foot made a difference in some of those close games, too. Whether it’s Tyrann Mathieu, Morris Claiborne, Rueben Randle or anyone else, this position has to have an impact for field position purposes.

]]>https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/three-hot-issues-lsu/feed/0Ranking The SEC Wide Receivers; Jeffery And Then Who?https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/sec-wide-receivers-2011-rankings/
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/sec-wide-receivers-2011-rankings/#commentsThu, 21 Jul 2011 09:52:33 +0000http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/?p=6727The SEC is almost stacked at the wide receiver position for 2011. Four of the top 20 come from the same team: the Arkansas Razorbacks.

We all know who the number one wide receiver is in this conference, and there is no debating that. But who are the other receivers, and how do they stack up?

Tavarres King was under the radar somewhat in Athens, playing behind All-American AJ Green. Now Green is gone, and King will have a chance to make a name for himself. King is a great athlete, and he knows this offense for Georgia. He quietly caught 27 passes for over 500 yards last year. Now is King’s time to shine at Georgia…Emory Blake was a great asset to the National Champion Auburn Tigers last year with over 550 yards receiving. However, that was last year, and Auburn will have to find a quarterback to get Blake the ball. He is a good receiver, and I fully expect Gus Malzahn to get him the ball every opportunity he can, somehow…Chad Bumphis has somewhat underachieved during his time at MSU. He was a can’t-miss recruit out of high school who has not fully developed at this level – partly because of the lack of success in the passing game and partly because he just hasn’t blossomed yet fully. I do expect Mullen to get more creative in his offense and use Bumphis much like he used Percy Harvin at Florida.

Rueben Randle is a great looking wide receiver prospect on the Bayou. He has yet to get a quarterback who can get him the football, though. Randle has great size, and he will use that to his advantage over the smaller defensive backs. He did catch 33 passes for 544 yards and three touchdowns last year, but those numbers could be significantly better once the passing game picks up. He needs a quarterback, and if LSU is going with Jordan Jefferson, I’m not going with Rueben Randle having top-five receiver numbers in this league. I could be singing a different tune at the end of this year…Jarius Wright gets lost in the mix somewhat behind Greg Childs and Joe Adams in Fayetteville. However, Wright can be just as much of a weapon as those two when he is on his game. He is one of the fastest players on this football team, and I expect him to have a great year…Justin Hunter will be the next great wide receiver in the SEC. From what I saw of Hunter last year, he has it all. He didn’t get much playing time, but he did average 26 yards per catch, which is just stupid-good numbers. Hunter has an adequate quarterback in Tyler Bray, and he can out-jump any SEC defensive back to get that football. He should be the No. 1 receiver on Bray’s list; therefore, he will get a lot of balls thrown his way. I love the way this kid plays the game.

Marquis Maze should be the primary receiver at Alabama this year for the quarterbacks. Maze is an older and wiser player than a year ago. He did have 557 yards receiving and three touchdowns on the year. He is so important to this team for so many reasons, namely his experience and leadership for transfer Duron Carter. Maze will use his blazing speed this year to shake defenders right off him…Joe Adams is such a different player than many on this list. I believe he has a chip on his shoulder to prove himself once again after dropping a couple of passes in the Sugar Bowl and also prove he can be mentioned with his fellow teammate and receiver Greg Childs. Adams’ health is of utmost importance to this Arkansas football team because he is so vital in the punt return game as well…Fellow Razorback Greg Childs looks to be the best pro prospect on this Arkansas team. Childs has the size at 6-3 to make any play on the field. He is as good of a possession receiver in the country, and he should be dynamite for this passing game. Hopefully his health is restored because he suffered a nasty season-ending knee injury early last year.

1. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

Was there any doubt about this pick? Alshon Jeffery is the only receiver in this league who could total 100 receptions on the year. He is the primary receiver on a talented team with a quarterback who – when he’s not on a binge – can play as good as anyone in the conference. Jeffery is the top pro prospect in the country for 2011. He can do it all for the Gamecocks, and he has speed that is very deceptive. The sky is the limit for Alshon Jeffery. He can be as good as he wants to be – just get him the freaking ball!

Photo from Icon SMI

]]>https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/sec-wide-receivers-2011-rankings/feed/7Biletnikoff Watch Listhttps://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/biletnikoff-award-watch-list-sec/
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/biletnikoff-award-watch-list-sec/#commentsThu, 14 Jul 2011 12:23:06 +0000http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/?p=6575The Biletnikoff Award is given annually to the best wide receiver in the country, and there are 12 who made it on the watch list for the SEC for 2011.

Of the 12, four belong to the Arkansas Razorbacks. Can anyone say Wide Receiver U?

As we have all grown accustomed to, the SEC has some very talented and outstanding football players. Many will play in the league and many are already there playing on Sundays. The SEC is usually known for its defense, but for 2011, it will be known for two key positions – wide receiver and running back, and I’m sure the defense will be stout as ever. First, let’s take a look at the wide receiver position.

Wide Receivers

There was a ton of talent this past year in the SEC at receiver, and some of them went on to the NFL, including AJ Green, Julio Jones, Darvin Adams and Randall Cobb. However, there are still studs returning in the SEC to light up your TVs on Saturdays.

Alabama – Marquis Maze

The one guy who has to step up next season for Alabama at wide receiver is Marquis Maze. Maze is primed to have a breakout season for the Tide, but now that Julio Jones is gone, the attention will turn to him. Will Maze be able to be that go-to receiver that Alabama will desperately need? He certainly has the athleticism and talent to do so.

Arkansas – Greg Childs, Joe Adams, Cobi Hamilton and Jarius Wright

First, you have to look at Arkansas and the great group of receivers the Razorbacks return – Greg Childs, Joe Adams, Cobi Hamilton and Jarius Wright. If Childs would have not gotten hurt this past year, we would be speculating on what NFL team would make him a happy young man come draft day. Adams is also an outstanding receiver who double dips in punt returns. Hamilton and Wright stepped up beautifully after Childs went down with his season-ending injury. Talent abounds in Fayetteville for Bobby Petrino.

Auburn – Emory Blake

Emory Blake will no longer have Darvin Adams beside him to relieve some double teams. Blake will now find himself covered, but he certainly is talented enough to find a way around those double teams. Hopefully Trovon Reed can step up for Auburn to take some pressure off of Blake. Blake looks to be ready to take over the reigns as Auburn’s top receiver.

LSU – Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard

Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard are stars in the making, if an LSU quarterback can just get them the football. Randle is the bigger wide out who has size, speed and great hands. Randle is what we like to call the total package. Shepard, on the other hand, has great speed when he gets the ball in space. Again, LSU struggled mightily to get them the football in 2010, but I think that will change in 2011.

Mississippi State – Chad Bumphis

I just loved Chad Bumphis coming out of high school. He’s a fast and gritty player who has the ability to break a long run after a catch or take a jet sweet to the house in StarkVegas. However, Bumphis has been sporadic in his career. I do know that quarterback Chris Relf is gaining some confidence in the passing game and showed drastic improvement towards the end of next year, so that could have a great impact on Bumphis’ game and how Dan Mullen chooses to use him in his offense. He can be that Percy Harvin-type player for Mullen’s offense.

South Carolina – Alshon Jeffery

Now that AJ Green is gone, Jeffery is ready to take over as the top wide receiver in the SEC. I mean, the guy can do it all. The two things I love about him the most are that he keeps his mouth shut on the field and plays a clean game, and he stays out trouble. You never hear about this guy, unless of course he is dominating on the gridiron. Jeffery will be the best wide receiver in the country in 2011.

Tennessee – Justin Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers

Justin Hunter is one of the best looking, young wide receivers I’ve ever seen. He is tall and lean, but he can take a punch to the gut also. Hunter runs great routes and can jump out of the stadium and certainly over a smaller defensive back who tries to guard him. Hunter is ready to more weight heading into his sophomore year, and he has a chance to be a top five receiver in the SEC in 2011 – much like Alshon Jeffery came on this year for Carolina. Also, Hunter has a better quarterback than the Gamecocks, so his numbers will increase as Tyler Bray gains confidence. Da’Rick Rogers is a great looking prospect as well. He has great size, but he was mostly used running the wide receiver reverse in 2010. I look for Rogers to gain some confidence, learn the playbook and drastically increase in 2011.

I’m sure there will be more receivers emerge during the 2011 season; however, this list is the major returnees in the SEC.

Someone for Florida and Georgia needs to step up because it sure looks crazy for a list of wide receivers not to include either team.

Part Two will look at a great crop of running back talent returning in the SEC.

This weekend #10 LSU hosts #6 Alabama under the lights in Death Valley. The LSU Tigers have looked good in some wins and bad in others, but they seem to match up with the Crimson Tide particularly well, in the midst of all of the buzz about the Iron Bowl in a few weeks. Alabama has to get through LSU first, and they will have to do it in the toughest place to play in the conference – possibly the country.

Both defenses are good, and both rely on their running game to eat up yardage and keep the football in their possession. Alabama has more of the star players and the names you know, but LSU has a lot of talent – they just have trouble getting them the football because of their weak quarterback play.

For Alabama To Be Effective

Alabama has experience, they have a week of rest and they have Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson to pound the rock. LSU is pretty stout against the run – minus Auburn – and the Tide could have a tough time running on the Tigers. Quarterback Greg McElroy will have to be on his game if LSU plays a run-heavy defense. If LSU can slow down the running game, Alabama will have to step up their passing game. McElroy has taken some heat this year but manages the offense effectively. He’s not a dominant player, but he has experience and is a winner. He will have to get the football to Julio Jones, Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks in the passing game to loosen up the Tiger defense. Richardson and Ingram are used very effective in screen situations as well, as both backs can catch the football out of the backfield. Alabama will have to establish the run because we all remember what happened when they could not get it going against South Carolina. Their defense will be solid and should keep LSU’s scoring down.

For LSU To Be Effective

LSU has a ton of playmakers on their football team. They do, however, have trouble getting them the football. Receivers Terrence Tolliver, Russell Sheppard and Rueben Randle are talented, but they can only be effective if they get the ball. Running backs Stevan Ridley and Michael Ford are pounders, not really game breakers, but they are effective running the football. Quarterback play has been a struggle all year for the Tigers. Quarterbacks Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee have been mildly effective at times and terrible at others. Jefferson will be used as the running quarterback and Lee the passing quarterback – just like they have shown all year. If you are Les Miles, you cannot afford to let these quarterbacks beat you, but you have to have confidence in them at the same time. The LSU defense has to be a focal point for this one. If LSU can slow down Alabama’s run game, Patrick Peterson will be matched up against Julio Jones in the secondary. What more could you ask for to get Alabama in passing situations?

What Gives?

LSU matches up with Alabama on paper, but we all know the game is played on the field. Everyone is slightly overlooking this game and seemingly counting this as a win for the Tide. I think this will be a low-scoring, run-heavy football game. I think LSU will keep it close, but if they do not find a way to get their wide receivers / playmakers the football, they will be in trouble. Anytime there is a low-scoring game, either team can make a big play that can carry them the entire game.

This Saturday night down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 22nd ranked West Virginia Mountaineers come to Tiger Stadium to take on 17th ranked LSU in what figures to be one of the biggest non-conference games in the country this weekend. West Virginia brings its Big East spread offense down into SEC country to play with the big boys. Here are a few things you need to know:

1. Patrick Peterson will be the best player and the most NFL-ready talent on the field Saturday night. He could be the best player in the conference, but that’s debatable. Peterson averages 134 all-purpose yards per game in the kick and punt return game. Think about that – 134 yards, and he doesn’t even touch the football on offense. He is a dynamic playmaker and shut-down corner who has a great career ahead of him in the NFL. He will look to help shut the WVU passing game down. Peterson has two interceptions through three games this season.

2. Noel Devine is a dynamic playmaker for West Virginia in the spread offense. Devine could have opted to the NFL last year but stayed behind to finish what he started at WVU for Coach Bill Stewart. Devine has had a troubled past in high school, but has really flourished when he got away from it all in Morgantown. He is a special talent, and I truly enjoy watching him play football. Devine currently has 383 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

3. West Virginia Quarterback Geno Smith connects well with receivers Tavon Austin and Jock Sanders. Smith came from the South Florida area upon high school graduation and has really grown up this year at the quarterback position. He has been making plays throwing and running the football for the Mountaineers this season. Smith has thrown for 800 yards and 7 touchdowns. Tavon Austin and Jock Sanders are the playmakers at wide receiver. West Virginia game plans around getting the football to these guys in space and letting them use their speed to burn the defense. It will be interesting to see if Austin and Sanders can get anything going against Patrick Peterson and company.

4. LSU has multiple playmakers on offense. With the combination of running back Stevan Ridley and wide receivers Russell Shephard, Rueben Randle and Terrance Tolliver, LSU has the playmakers on offense to be great this year. Ridley has really come on this year at the running back position and has 330 yards and two touchdowns. Shephard is the “Percy Harvin” of LSU’s offense, and Coach Les Miles loves to get this kid the ball in multiple ways because he is dynamic. Randle leads the team in receiving with 135 yards and a touchdown.

5. Despite the flack the media gives the LSU quarterback position – or lack thereof – Jordan Jefferson has played okay this year. Sure his numbers could be better, but the Tigers are undefeated, and he seems to be minimizing his mistakes to give his team the best possible chance to win. He’s only thrown two interceptions, and he is averaging 113 yards a game through the air. Again, the numbers could be better, but LSU could be in a worse position than they are in right now.

This is a big-time out-of-conference game. The Mountaineers are gaining momentum and have been playing good football coming into this game. Quarterback Geno Smith has been throwing well, and I look for them to get the ball into space against LSU’s defense, but to no avail. LSU should handle this game, but it could be a fight.

]]>https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2010/llsu-tigers-vs-west-virginia-mountaineers-preview/feed/0Five Things You Need To Know: LSU vs Vanderbilthttps://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2010/lsu-tigers-vs-vanderbilt-commodores-sept-11-football-analysi/
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2010/lsu-tigers-vs-vanderbilt-commodores-sept-11-football-analysi/#commentsWed, 08 Sep 2010 09:50:53 +0000http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/?p=1393LSU travels to Nashville Saturday night to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores, game time is 7pm. LSU is coming off a win against a ranked, but depleted, opponent in North Carolina; while Vanderbilt lost a close game to Northwestern. Here are five things you need to know about the game.

1: Patrick Peterson: This guy is the real deal, don’t throw his way, don’t kick to him, don’t even look to his side of the field. Many around the country believed that Peterson was one of the nation’s best corner backs, but not everyone realized that he would be so dangerous in the return game. Peterson accounted for 257 return yards, 244 of which came in the first half. He was named SEC special teams player of the week, and his return yards were an LSU record, and second most in SEC history. Peterson took a punt 87 yards for a touchdown, which was tied for 6th longest in school history. His special team duties did not take away from his role as shut-down corner for the Tigers, as he finished with five tackles.

2: LSU offense is explosive: Quarterback Jordan Jefferson looked like he belonged as the starter, completing 15 of 21 for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns. Russell Shepard, a former quarterback turned wide receiver/running back, had 67 yards rushing including a 50 yard touchdown run. Shepard also had two catches, one of which went for a touchdown. Rueben Randle led LSU in receiving with 4 catches for 71 yards, including a 51 yard touchdown pass. All three of these guys have the potential to score at any point, and from anywhere on the field. Shepard is the closest thing to Percy Harvin that I have seen, he is dynamic with the ball in his hands.

3: Poor Coaching cost Vandy the win: Last night, I debated with a friend over when to go for two and when it was not necessary. When Virginia Tech scored to go down 2 he argued that going for the two-point conversion was the right call. I quickly pointed out that had it been the fourth quarter, it would be the right call, but midway through the third quarter was too early. Lets play out that same scenario for Vanderbilt last week. Vanderbilt scored with 2 minutes left in the 3rd against Northwestern, they elected to go for two and did not convert. Had they kicked the extra point, it would be a one point game. Northwestern scored with just under 5 minutes left in the game, and put the difference at 8 (they missed the PAT). Vanderbilt went down and scored with two minutes remaining and was forced to go for two, because their previous conversion had failed. This attempt also failed, Vanderbilt lost by two. Had Vanderbilt kicked the extra point after their 3rd quarter touchdown, they would have had to kick an extra point and forced overtime. Vanderbilt is playing with less talent than most of their opponents, and can not afford to make coaching mistakes and still win games.

4:Vanderbilt offense looked respectable: We all know that Big 10 defenses are suspect, so I won’t put a whole lot of stock into the following statistics. The Vanderbilt offense accounted for 432 yards, and was extremely balanced. Vandy threw for 240 yards and rushed for 192 yards, while they will face a much better defense in LSU, this is an encouraging sign for the Commodores.

5: Flag on the field:These two teams combined for 17 penalties and 156 yards in week 1. If Vanderbilt is expected to compete and keep this game close, they cannot duplicate week one’s mark of 9 penalties for 91 yards. While this game should not be close enough to matter, LSU needs to improve in this area as well. Four of their next seven games are against ranked opponents, and they will need to minimize their mistakes in order to win those games.